U.S. patent application number 10/433871 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-12 for system for carrying out a welding process.
Invention is credited to Feichtinger, Josef, Mair, Peter.
Application Number | 20040026392 10/433871 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 3689722 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040026392 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Feichtinger, Josef ; et
al. |
February 12, 2004 |
System for carrying out a welding process
Abstract
The invention relate to a system, for example a welding system,
for running a welding process or related process, having at least
one wirelessly communicating component with a transmitter and/or
receiver system. At least one mounting unit (28) is provided in the
various components of the system, in particular the welding system,
which can be fitted with a communication module (29) and at least
one connecting mechanism of the mounting unit (28) is connected to
an internal data transmission system (32) of the system, in
particular the welding system. At least one mounting unit (28) is
equipped with a communication module (29) in order to run a signal
and/or data transmission.
Inventors: |
Feichtinger, Josef;
(Thalheim bei Wels, AT) ; Mair, Peter; (Wels,
AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Collard & Roe
1077 Northern Boulevard
Roslyn
NY
11576
US
|
Family ID: |
3689722 |
Appl. No.: |
10/433871 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
December 5, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AT01/00382 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
219/130.5 ;
219/132 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23K 9/0953 20130101;
B23K 9/0956 20130101; B23K 9/095 20130101; B23K 9/1087
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
219/130.5 ;
219/132 |
International
Class: |
B23K 009/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 11, 2000 |
AT |
A 2050/2000 |
Claims
1. System, for example a welding system, for running a welding
process or related process, having at least one wirelessly
communicating component with a transmitter and/or receiver system,
characterised in that at least one mounting unit (28) is provided
in the various components of the system, in particular the welding
system, which can be fitted with a communication module (29),
whereby at least one connecting mechanism (36) of the mounting unit
(28) is connected to an internal data transmission system (32) of
the system, in particular the welding system, and at least one
mounting (28) system is equipped with a communication module (29)
in order to run a signal and/or data transmission.
2. System as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the
communication module (29) has a transmitter and/or receiver system
(38).
3. System as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the
component or components is or are a welding torch (10) and/or a
hose pack (23) and/or a control system (4) and/or a power source
(2) and/or a wire feed device (11) and/or a welding mask (30)
and/or an input and/or output device (22) and/or such like.
4. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that at least one of the mounting units (28) has a
part-element (34) of a connecting mechanism (36) for connecting to
an internal data transmission system (32) and/or a power source of
the system, in particular the welding system, or the respective
component.
5. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the mounting units (28) are designed so that
the communication modules (29) can be changed without the need for
tools.
6. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the mounting units (28) are provided with
plug-in systems and optionally with latch connections.
7. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the connecting mechanism (36), in particular
part-elements (34, 35), are provided in a wireless arrangement by
means of an induction loop and/or an infrared interface.
8. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the connecting mechanism (36), in particular
the part-elements (34, 35) are provided in the form of a plug and
socket connection, in particular a plug and socket mechanism which
automatically establishes a contact when the communication module
(29) is placed in the mounting unit (28).
9. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the connecting mechanism (36), in particular
a part-element (34) of the connecting mechanism (36), is
electrically and/or optically connected to the internal data
transmission system (32) of the system, in particular the welding
system.
10. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that at least one of the communication modules
(29) is provided with a part-element (35) of the connecting
mechanism (36).
11. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the internal data transmission system (32) is
provided in the form of a bus system, in particular a field bus
(33).
12. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the transmitter and/or receiver system (38)
of the communication module (29) has a transmission power which is
below a transmission power requiring a licence.
13. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the transmitter and/or receiver system (38)
of the communication module (29) has a transmission and/or
reception capacity for a range of at most a radius of 100 m,
preferably between 3 m and 20 m.
14. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the transmitter and/or receiver system (38)
of the communication module (29) is specified for communication at
frequencies which do not require a licence.
15. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the transmitter and/or receiver system (38)
of the communication module (29) is configured for establishing a
wireless connection to a wireless telephone network (46), in
particular to an in-house telephone network (46).
16. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the wireless telephone network (46) is
configured for establishing a connection to a trans-regional data
network, in particular to an intranet and/or the Internet (50).
17. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the power source to which the communication
module (29) is connected is a power source disposed in the
respective component, in particular a direct voltage source.
18. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that at least one of the communication modules
(29) has an internal energy storage system, in particular a battery
or an accumulator.
19. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that at least one of the communication modules
(29) is provided with a device (42) which adapts different data
formats between the internal data transmission system (32) and the
wireless data communication network (37).
20. System as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that the device
(42) is disposed between the part-element (35) of the connecting
mechanism (36) and the transmitter and/or receiver system (38).
21. System as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims,
characterised in that at least one of the communication modules
(29) is provided with a memory unit (43), in particular for
temporarily storing data awaiting transmission.
22. Method of welding or running a related process, whereby at
least one component of a system, in particular a component of a
welding device or a welding system is or are connected to at least
one other component of the other or another system, characterised
in that components of the system are used which can be equipped
with communication modules (29) and at least any one component of
the system is equipped with a communication module (29), and at
least one communication module (29) is connected via a connecting
mechanism (36) to an internal data transmission system (32) and/or
a power source of the system, in particular the welding system, or
the component, whereupon a signal and/or data transmission to
another communication module (29) of another component of the
system and/or a transmitter and/or receiver unit (45), e.g. a
telephone system (47), is run by means of a wireless data and
communication network (37).
23. Method as claimed in claim 22, characterised in that the signal
and/or data transmission is run between components within a system
or between components of different systems which are structurally
independent of one another or disposed in separate locations, in
particular.
24. Method as claimed in claim 22 or 23, characterised in that a
transmission power of the communication module (29) is selected so
as to be below a transmission power requiring a licence.
25. Method as claimed in claim 22 to 24, characterised in that a
range of the communication module (29) is selected so as to be at
most a radius of 100 m, preferably between 3 m and 20 m.
26. Method as claimed in claim 22 to 25, characterised in that
communication in the wireless data and communication network (37)
is effected at a frequency that does not require a licence.
27. Method as claimed in claim 22 to 26, characterised in that a
wireless telephone network (46), in particular a mobile telephone
network, for example an in-house telephone network (46), is used in
at least certain areas for communicating in the wireless data and
communication network (37).
28. Method as claimed in claim 22 to 27, characterised in that the
communication is effected or a communication forwarded in the
wireless data and communication network (37) by means of several
transmitter and/or receiver systems (38) of several communication
modules (29) and optionally via one or more transmitter and/or
receiver units (45), e.g. of a wireless telephone network (46).
29. Method as claimed in claim 22 to 28, characterised in that data
is picked up from an internal data transmission system (32) and
data is forwarded to the internal data transmission system (32) of
a component contactlessly by the communication module (29), in
particular by means of infrared radiation or an induction loop.
30. Method as claimed in claim 22 to 29, characterised in that
different data formats received from the internal data transmission
system (32) and data to be forwarded to it are adapted by means of
a device (42).
31. Method as claimed in claim 22 to 30, characterised in that the
communication module (29) is wirelessly supplied with power and
regardless of location by means of an integrated energy storage
system, in particular a battery or an accumulator.
32. Method as claimed in claim 22 to 31, characterised in that the
signal and/or data transmission is run by means of any number of
communication modules (29), which are not disposed in any component
of the system, in particular the welding system.
33. Method as claimed in claim 22 to 32, characterised in that the
component of the system, in particular the welding system, is
regulated and controlled by means of the transmitted signals and/or
data.
34. Method as claimed in claim 22 to 33, characterised in that data
is picked up from the internal data transmission system (32), in
particular the bus system, wirelessly via the data and
communication network (37) or data is forwarded from the data and
communication network (37) to the internal data transmission system
(32) by means of the communication modules (29).
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a system for running a welding
process or a process of a related type, with at least one component
which communicates wirelessly, as described in claim 1, and a
method of welding or running processes of a related type, whereby
at least one component of the system is or becomes connected to at
least one other component of the system or to another system, as
described in claim 22.
[0002] A welding apparatus, cutting apparatus or similar is known
from DE 297 15 731 U1, which has a housing and electronic equipment
disposed in it and the housing has a control panel. The control
panel is arranged on a separate control part and the control part
can be removed from the housing but linked to the electronic
equipment in the housing via a connecting cable or wirelessly for
control purposes.
[0003] The objective of the invention is to propose a system and a
method for running a welding process or a process of a related
type, which increases the flexibility of the system and/or the
components. Another objective of the invention is to obtain a very
good signal and/or data transmission between components of the
system or the installation.
[0004] This objective is achieved by the invention as a result of
the features defined in the characterising part of claim 1. The
advantage of this approach is that the communication module or
modules can be mounted on different components, thereby resulting
in short data transmission distances for a signal and/or data
transmission, which can improve the transmission quality.
[0005] The embodiments defined in claims 2 and 3 make the system
more flexible.
[0006] Also of advantage is the embodiment defined in claim 4. The
advantage of this approach is that data is transmitted from a
hard-wired data transmission system to a hard-wired data
transmission system.
[0007] As a result of the advantageous embodiment defined in claim
5, the communication modules can be mounted and changed by a user
very easily.
[0008] An advantageous embodiment of the mounting unit is described
in claim 6, which prevents the communication module from
inadvertently falling out or being removed.
[0009] Also of advantage is an embodiment defined in claim 7. The
advantage of this is that the individual part-elements of the
connection system can be connected in a manner which decreases
their susceptibility to faults and dirt.
[0010] The advantage of an embodiment as defined in claim 8 is that
once the communication module has been fitted by a user, no further
measures are needed in order to connect the individual
part-elements of the connecting mechanism.
[0011] The variants defined in claims 9 and 10 represent
advantageous embodiments of the connecting system.
[0012] The advantage of claim 11 is that it enables the use of a
data transmission system known from the prior art, which is widely
used and not susceptible to errors.
[0013] The advantage of the embodiments defined in claims 12 to 14
is that the communication system can be operated without a licence
and the user does not have to worry about conforming to legal
requirements.
[0014] The advantage of an embodiment as defined in claim 15 is
that a network can be used to exchange signals and/or data with
other components at various different locations.
[0015] The advantage achieved as a result of the embodiment defined
in claim 16 is that a connection can be established with a data
network covering different regions, in particular a global data
network, thereby enabling a trans-regional or global data exchange
to be operated.
[0016] Claim 17 defines an advantageous power supply system for the
communication module.
[0017] Claim 18 specifies an energy storage system of the
communication module, the advantage of which is that the
communication module can be used anywhere.
[0018] The advantage of the embodiment defined in claim 19 is that
different types of data transmission can be operated in conjunction
with one another between the hard-wired data transmission system
and the wireless data transmission system.
[0019] Claim 20 defines an advantageous arrangement of the
converter system.
[0020] The advantage of another embodiment defined in claim 21 is
that data to be transmitted does not have to be despatched
immediately but can be temporarily stored for subsequent processing
or for transmission at a later point in time.
[0021] Irrespective of the above, the objective of the invention is
also achieved by the features defined in the characterising part of
claim 22. The advantage of this approach is that a more reliable
data transfer can be run without the need for any complex systems
because the communication module or modules can be mounted on
different components to set up very short data transmission
distances for a signal and/or data transmission and a communication
network can be set up to suit local conditions.
[0022] The advantage of a useful feature defined in claim 23 is
that data can also be transmitted to a remote or structurally
separate system or a structurally separate component. The advantage
of the features described in claims 24 to 26 is that operation of
the communication network is guaranteed to be in keeping with legal
requirements and regulations governing transmission systems of this
type.
[0023] Claim 27 defines an advantageous feature for integrating a
widely distributed communication network.
[0024] The advantage of the features defined in claim 28 is that
the signal or data transmission can be set up very flexibly,
reducing the range across which the individual transmitter systems
or transmitter units are required to transmit.
[0025] Claim 29 defines connection methods that are particularly
useful in avoiding faults and dirt.
[0026] The advantage of the feature defined in claim 30 is that it
offers different possibilities for forwarding data, whereby, for
example, data blocks of differing structure can be adapted or tuned
to one another.
[0027] The feature defined in claim 31 makes for a communication
module that is particularly flexible.
[0028] The advantageous feature defined in claim 32 enables a
communication system to be set up that is especially flexible and
can operate independently of the welding apparatus.
[0029] The feature defined in claim 33 has an advantage in that it
there is no need to provide an additional control and/or data line
for every component to receive data.
[0030] As a result of the advantageous feature defined in claim 34,
a signal and/or data transmission can be set up between components
across part-distances by cabling and across part-distances by a
wireless system, which means that a communication system can be set
up in a very flexible manner and adapted to the conditions of the
operating site.
[0031] The invention will be described in more detail below with
reference to examples of embodiments.
[0032] Of the drawings:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting a system, in
particular a welding apparatus or a welding machine;
[0034] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the communication module in a
component of a welding apparatus;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a modular communication
system between different components of a system or welding
apparatus;
[0036] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a modular communication
system between different components of two systems or sets of
welding apparatus.
[0037] Firstly, it should be pointed out that the same parts
described in the different embodiments are denoted by the same
reference numbers and the same component names and the disclosures
made throughout the description can be transposed in terms of
meaning to same parts bearing the same reference numbers or same
component names. Furthermore, the positions chosen for the purposes
of the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc,. relate to the
drawing specifically being described and can be transposed in terms
of meaning to a new position when another position is being
described. Individual features or combinations of features from the
different embodiments illustrated and described may be construed as
independent inventive solutions or solutions proposed by the
invention in their own right.
[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for running a welding process. A
welding plant or welding apparatus 1 is illustrated, with which a
whole range of welding processes, e.g. MIG-MAG welding and WIG/TIG
welding or electrode welding processes, etc. Clearly, the solution
proposed by the invention may be used with a current source or a
welding current source.
[0039] The welding device 1 has a current source 2 with a power
component 3, a control system 4 and a switching element 5
co-operating with the power component 3 and control system 4. The
switching element 5 or the control system 4 is connected to a
control valve 6 incorporated in a supply line 7 for a gas 8, in
particular an inert gas such as CO.sub.2, helium or argon and such
like, running between a gas storage 9 and a welding torch 10.
[0040] Furthermore, a wire feed device 11 such as commonly used for
MIG-MAG welding may also be activated via the control system 4 in
order to feed a welding wire 13 from a supply reel 14 through a
supply line 12 into the region of the welding torch 10. Clearly,
the wire feed device 11 could also be integrated in the welding
device 1, in particular in the basic housing, in a manner known
from the prior art, rather than used as an add-on device as
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0041] The current needed to strike an arc 15 between the welding
wire 13 and a workpiece 16 is fed via a supply line 17 from the
power component 3 of the current source 2 to the welding torch 10
and the welding wire 13, the workpiece 16 to be welded also being
connected to the welding device 1, in particular to the current
source 2, via another supply line 18 so that a current circuit can
be established across the arc 15.
[0042] In order to cool the welding torch 10, the welding torch 10
can be connected via a cooling circuit 19, with an integrated flow
indicator 20, to a fluid container, in particular a water container
21, so that the cooling circuit 19, in particular a fluid pump used
to pump the liquid contained in the water container 21, can be
activated when the welding torch 10 is switched on, thereby
enabling the welding torch 10 and the welding wire 13 to be
cooled.
[0043] The welding device 1 also has an input and/or output device
22, by means of which a whole range of settings can be entered for
welding parameters and operating modes of the welding device 1. The
welding parameters entered at the input and/or output device 22 are
then forwarded to the control system 4, from where they are applied
to the individual components of the welding system and the welding
device 1.
[0044] In the embodiment illustrated as an example here, the
welding torch 10 is also connected to the welding device 1 and the
welding system by means of a hose pack 23. The individual lines
from the welding device 1 to the welding torch 10 are disposed in
the hose pack 23. The hose pack 23 is connected by means of a
connector device 24, known from the prior art, to the welding torch
10, whilst the individual lines in the hose pack 23 are connected
to the individual contacts of the welding device 1 by means of
connecting sockets and plug connectors. To relieve tension on the
hose pack 23, the hose pack 23 is connected via a tension-relieving
device 25 to a housing 26, in particular the basic housing of the
welding device 1.
[0045] In order to set up a modular communication system 27,
mounting units 28 are provided on the various components of the
welding device 1 in order to mount communication modules 29. These
various components of the system or welding plant and the welding
device 1 might include, for example, the welding torch 10 and/or
the hose pack 23 and/or the control system 4 and/or the power
source 2 and/or the wire feed device 11 and/or the welding mask 30
and/or the input/output device 22 and/or such like.
[0046] Naturally, it would also be possible to position other
mounting units 28 for communication modules 29 at any other points
on the welding device 1 or on any of its components. The drawings
illustrate but one example of many possible variants, and in this
particular instance the hose pack 23 is made up of several
part-pieces connected via a coupling mechanism 31 and this coupling
mechanism 31 is also provided with a mounting unit 28 to enable a
communication module to be mounted on it as and when necessary, as
indicated by broken lines.
[0047] At this stage, it should be explicitly noted that the
solution proposed by the invention is not restricted to the
embodiments illustrated as examples here, in other words
applications involving welding apparatus and welding plants, but
may also be used for running various types of related processes,
such as soldering processes, for example, and/or for torch-cutting
and/or such like.
[0048] FIG. 2 illustrates one possible embodiment of the
communication module 29, which is retained in a mounting unit 28 of
a component of the welding device 1. In order to run a signal
and/or data transmission between the communication module 29 and an
internal data transmission system 32, in particular a bus system,
such as field bus 33 for example, the component of the welding
device 1 and the communication module 29 each has at least one
complementary part-element 34, 35 of a connecting mechanism 36.
[0049] The mounting unit 28 may be of a design whereby the
communication module 29 is slotted in or plugged in and is fitted
with means to ensure that the communication module 29 can not
inadvertently fall out or be removed. These means might be
retaining claws or latch connections, for example. Another option
would be to provide the mounting unit 28 with guide tracks or any
other guide or positioning mechanism so that the communication
module 29 can be inserted in an exact position. The important
feature is that the communication module 29 can be inserted in the
mounting unit 28 without any complex manoeuvring, i.e. very little
time or effort is required and the system can be installed and
replaced without much in the way of aids, and can be so in
particular without the need for tools.
[0050] In addition to the signal and/or data transmission, this
connecting mechanism 36 may naturally also be used as a means of
supplying power to the communication module 29 via a power source
disposed in a component of the welding device 1, in particular a
direct voltage source.
[0051] The connecting mechanism 36 may be provided in the form of a
serial or parallel interface, in particular a RS232 interface, of
the type known from the prior art. The connecting mechanism 36 is
advantageously configured so that when the communication module 29
is inserted in the mounting unit 28, it automatically establishes a
connection between the communication module 29 and the respective
component of the system or welding plant or welding device 1. The
connection itself may be established by electrical or optical
means, for example by infrared radiation.
[0052] Another possibility would be to provide the connecting
mechanism 36 in the form of an infrared interface for signal and/or
data transmission and an induction loop for supplying the
communication module 29 with power. This being the case, the
mounting unit 28 of the component of the welding device 1 and the
communication module 29, in particular the part elements 34 and 35,
would be provided with appropriate transmitter and/or receiver
systems, although in order to retain clarity in the drawings, these
are not illustrated.
[0053] In order to set up and communicate with a wireless data and
communication network 37, the communication module 29 has a
transmitter and/or receiver system 38. This transmitter and/or
receiver system 38 is configured to transmit and/or receive
signals, in particular radio signals.
[0054] The essential factor is that the transmission power of the
transmitter and/or receiver system 38 is selected so as to be below
a transmission power for which a licence would be required, which
means that the transmitter and/or receiver systems 38 are
inexpensive to set up and above all no licence is required to
operate this transmitter and/or receiver system 38, in particular a
post licence.
[0055] The transmitter and/or receiver system 38 may therefore be
designed for a range of at most 100 m radius, preferably between 3
and 20 m.
[0056] The transmitter and/or receiver system 38 is also designed
to transmit and/or receive at frequencies that are not subject to
licensing regulations or frequencies which are specifically
provided for and authorised for such applications. In view of the
fact that different transmission outputs or frequencies are
permitted in different countries and are authorised for
applications of this type and since the associated conditions are
also subject to change at any time, the transmitter and/or receiver
systems 38 may be of different specifications for different
countries.
[0057] The communication module 29, in particular the transmitter
and/or receiver system 38, may be configured for outputting signals
of different strengths or at different frequencies and the actual
transmission power or frequency used can be set by micro-switches
or with the aid of jumpers. Consequently, the transmitter and/or
receiver system 38 can be adapted to the relevant power outputs or
frequencies authorised for this type of application simply by
switching the micro-switch or merely by plugging in the jumper. For
practical purposes, this type of modification is preferably dealt
with in the country for which the supply is intended.
[0058] To enable a signal and/or data transmission to be run across
a distance greater than the range of a transmitter and/or receiver
system 38, several communication modules 29 with transmitter and/or
receiver systems 38 are used, in which case the first transmitter
and/or receiver system 38 will function as a transmitter, the
second transmitter and/or receiver system 38 will constitute the
receiver and any number of transmitter and/or receiver systems 38
may be connected in between, which merely serve as a means of
forwarding the communication, in other words, receiving, amplifying
and forwarding the signals and/or data.
[0059] The communication module 29 may also incorporate a device
42, for adapting different data formats between the data
transmission system 32 and the wireless data and communication
network 37. To this end, the device 42 be connected via
single-conductor or multi-conductor connecting lines to the part
element 35 of the connecting mechanism 36 and the transmitter
and/or receiver system 38.
[0060] The communication module 29 may also incorporate a memory
unit 43, which can be used for temporarily storing data awaiting
transmission and may be wired to the device 42.
[0061] Another possibility is to configure individual communication
modules 29 as communication modules 29 specifically assigned to
users. In other words, user-specific data can be stored in the
memory unit 43 for the communication module 29, which can be
assigned to a user, enabling this data to be retrieved by the user.
In this connection, another possibility worth mentioning is that
whereby a user of a welding device 1 will be assigned a
communication module 29 containing user-specific data, for example
welding settings, which is mounted in a welding torch 10 of the
welding device 1, and this user-specific communication module 29
links up to the wireless data and communication network 37 so that
data can be forwarded to other components of the welding device 1
and received from them, and the user will always be able to
retrieve user-specific data stored in the memory unit 43, enabling
the settings for the welding device 1 to be entered on the basis of
this data.
[0062] Operating Principle:
[0063] As may best be seen by considering FIGS. 1 and 2 in
conjunction with one another, a welding device 1 may incorporate a
plurality of components and have mounting units 28 for
communication modules 29 at various points.
[0064] At least some of the mounting units 28 have part-elements 34
of connecting mechanisms 36. The connecting mechanism 36 may be
used for operating a signal and/or data transmission from the data
transmission system 32 disposed in at least one of the components
of the welding device 1, in particular a field bus 33, to the
communication module 29 and/or to its power supply. However, it
would also be possible to fit components of the welding device 1
with a mounting unit 28 only but no connecting mechanism 36, in
which case the mounting units 28 would be used solely to mount a
communication module 29 but this communication module 29 would not
be directly connected to the data transmission system 32, in
particular the field bus 33 of the component, and the communication
module 29 itself may also have an internal power storage, for
example a battery or an accumulator, in order to supply the power.
These communication modules 29 would be used solely for the purpose
of shortening the distance across which a communication module 29
has to transmit signals and/or data. This system of receiving,
amplifying and forwarding signals and/or data is known from the
prior art, for example from relay stations used for radio systems
or mobile telephone networks.
[0065] The array of different components to be provided or fitted
with communication modules 29 may be selected depending on the
local conditions under which the system or welding device is set
up. Care need only be taken to ensure that a signal and/or data
exchange between different components is handled by a sufficiently
high number of communication modules 29 with transmitter and/or
receiver systems 38 and the range of a transmitter and/or receiver
system 38 is not exceeded.
[0066] The modular communication system 27 may be used for a
two-way transfer or transmission of data and/or signals between the
internal data transmission system 32, disposed in the welding
device 1 or in the welding system and provided as a bus system for
example, and the wireless data and communication network 37. A
two-way onward transmission of data is in turn run across the
wireless data and communication network 37 to another component,
which will then provide further processing or a display or output.
However, it would also be possible to regulate and control this
component on the basis of the transmitted data. Normally, only one
bus system or only one internal data transmission system 32 is
provided in a system or in a welding system or a welding device 1.
However, it would also be possible to provide different data
transmission systems 32, in particular bus systems, in different
components which can then be linked across the wireless data and
communication network 37. The only important thing is that a data
transmission takes place from a hard-wired data transmission system
32 to a hard-wired or wireless data and communication system 37 or
vice versa.
[0067] If a user wants to build a modular communication system 27
between different components of the welding device 1, he will equip
each of these components with a communication module 29 to enable a
mutual data exchange.
[0068] Such a data exchange might take place between the control
system 4 and the welding mask 30, for example, and may be made
available by means of a display system 44 on its internal face or
by any other input and/or output device.
[0069] Another signal and/or data exchange can be run between the
control system 4 and the wire feed device 11, for example, and/or
between the control system 4 and the input and/or output device
22.
[0070] In order to be able to bridge bigger distances between the
individual components of the welding device 1, one or more
additional communication modules 29 may be provided between the two
communication modules 29 intended to communicate with one another,
in order to receive, amplify and forward the transmitted signals
and/or data.
[0071] To run a signal and/or data exchange between the control
system 4 and the welding mask 30, for example, the coupling
mechanism 31 and the welding torch 10 can be fitted with a
communication module 29 in addition to the control system 4 and the
welding mask 30. In the case of a one-way data flow, the
communication module 29 of the control system 4 will act as a
"transmitter", the communication module of the coupling mechanism
31 and the welding torch 10 will be used merely for forwarding
purposes and the communication module 29 of the welding mask 30
will act as a "receiver".
[0072] In view of the fact that a communication module 29 may be
located within the reception range of several other communication
modules 29 of other components of the welding device 1, it may be
that commands will be processed in parallel. In order to ascertain
that this is the case, it is of practical advantage to issue a
command serial number prior to each transmission of data and before
transmitting.
[0073] A signal and/or data block awaiting transmission may consist
of a code representing the communication module 29 and an
incrementing command number, followed by the signals and/or data to
be transmitted. When this data block is received by another
communication module 29, the latter can determine the communication
module 29 from which the data was sent along with the running
command number allocated to this transmission. The ongoing command
serial numbers may be issued on the basis of 000 to 999 in a
constantly recurring endless loop.
[0074] If a communication module 29 then receives a transmission
with the same running command serial number several times, it will
know that it has already received this transmission from another
communication module 29 and can ignore this transmission, since it
was previously processed at an earlier point in time.
[0075] Naturally, it will be necessary to ensure that sufficient
time has elapsed before the same continuous series of command
numbers is allocated again to avoid issuing the same command
numbers for a subsequent and different job in too short a time. To
this end, it may be necessary to use continuous command numbers
with four or six digits, for example.
[0076] Another possibility would be for the data blocks to
incorporate priority bits. This would ensure that if several data
blocks were to arrive at the transmitter and/or receiver system 38
of the communication module 29 at the same time, the incoming
commands would be processed in order of importance.
[0077] Transmission of these data blocks may be synchronised in
time or they may advantageously not be time-synchronised. When the
transmission of data blocks is operated on a non-time-synchronised
basis, this is referred to as the ALOHA principle, which is
particularly well suited to a system with low data rates and a lot
of transmitters.
[0078] In accordance with the ALOHA principle, a transmitter and/or
receiver system 38 is able to access the wireless data and
communication network 37, in particular a radio channel of this
data and communication network 37, at any time, in other words
directly and without an authorisation signal, which means that the
transmitter and/or receiver systems 38 will not need complex
systems to co-ordinate access, making the communication module 29
more compact and less expensive to set up.
[0079] In order to transmit across several channels, it would also
be possible to send data blocks across the data and communication
network 37 by time-division or frequency-division multiplexing.
[0080] FIG. 3 illustrates a welding device 1 with an external wire
feed device 11 and in this instance the wire feed device 11 and the
welding torch 10 of the welding device 1 are arranged at a greater
distance away from the other components of the welding device 1,
for example the control system 4 and the power source 2. In order
to be able to set up a modular communication system 27 between the
wire feed device 11 and the control system 4, each of these two
components is fitted with a communication module 29. For practical
purposes, these communication modules 29 are disposed at the
highest point of the housing 26 and at the highest point of the
wire feed device 11, in order to obtain the best transmission
quality.
[0081] The coupling mechanism 31 of the hose pack 23, which
consists of two parts, can also be fitted with a communication
module 29. In order to be able to bridge a bigger distance between
the communication module 29 of the coupling mechanism 31 and the
communication module 29 of the control system 4, for which the
transmission capacity of the individual transmitter and/or receiver
system 38 of the communication modules 29 would not be adequate,
transmitter and/or receiver units 45 such as a wireless telephone
network 46 of a telephone system 47 can be used for the signal
and/or data transmission between the components of the welding
device 1, for example.
[0082] In this instance, therefore, the wireless data and
communication network 37 would be directed at least partially
across the wireless telephone network 46. Naturally, the
transmitter and/or receiver systems 38 would have to be able to
communicate with the transmitter and/or receiver units 45 in this
instance, i.e. the frequencies of the transmitter and/or receivers
would have to be tuned to one another and the transmitter and/or
receiver system 38 and the transmitter and/or receiver units 45
would have to be configured to transmit and/or receive the same
data blocks, in particular coding operated on the basis of the same
algorithm and/or for processing the same run of command serial
numbers.
[0083] The wireless telephone network 46 and the transmitter and/or
receiver units 45 may be a standard, commercially available DECT
system, for example. To provide the telephone system 47 and the
transmitter and/or receiver units 45 with power, it is of practical
advantage to link them to a power source, as indicated by broken
lines.
[0084] Another possible way of setting up the wireless data and
communication network 37 is to use transmitter and/or receiver
units 45 designed to transmit data and/or signals specifically for
a welding process or related processes rather than transmitter
and/or receiver units 45 assigned to the telephone system 47, as
described above. For example, it is preferable to use transmitter
and/or receiver units 45 at various points or in a matrix
arrangement in a room, for example an assembly hall, for
transmitting signals and/or data for a welding process. The
communication modules 29 may also be set up for operation with
transmitter and/or receiver units 45. These might be described as
communication modules 29 which are not disposed in any components
of the system, in particular the welding plant.
[0085] Using the configuration of the modular communication system
27 illustrated in FIG. 3, it will be possible to transmit signals
and/or data between the welding torch of the welding device 1 and
the external wire feed device 11. Accordingly, control signals can
be forwarded from the welding torch 10, for example on activation
of a process control key, to the wire feed device 11, prompting a
corresponding control or regulation to be activated, for example a
wire feed rate to be applied. Naturally, the embodiment illustrated
is just one of many possible variants. Another of many possible
examples is a situation in which a signal and/or data transmission
is run between the welding torch 10, in particular its process
control key, and the control system 4 or the input and/or output
device 22. It would also be possible, for example, for the delivery
of gas to the welding torch 10 to be controlled and regulated by
means of a signal transmitted across the data and communication
network 37.
[0086] FIG. 4 depicts two welding devices 1, one of which welding
devices 1 is equipped with the communication module 29
communicating with the control system 4 via the field bus 33, for
example, and a connection can be established across the data and
communication network 37 and the wireless telephone network 46
between the communication module 29 and the telephone system 47 via
the transmitter and/or receiver units 45. The telephone system 47
can in turn establish a connection to an intranet or the Internet
50. The Internet 50 communicates with the other welding device 1 so
that data can be exchanged between the two welding devices 1 via
the Internet 50, the telephone network 46 and the wireless data and
communication network 37.
[0087] The other welding device 1 can be connected to the Internet
50 via other transmitter and/or receiver units 45 of another
telephone system 47 and/or other transmitter and/or receiver system
38 of other communication modules 29, but it would also be possible
to establish such a connection via a cable connection, for example
by means of a telephone cable.
[0088] Accordingly, it is possible to link several systems, for
example several welding systems or welding devices, which are
structurally independent of one another and set up at different
locations, in order to run a signal and/or data exchange.
[0089] For the sake of good order, it should finally be pointed out
that in order to provide a clearer understanding of the welding
device 1, it and its component parts are illustrated to a certain
extent out of proportion and/or on an enlarged scale and/or on a
reduced scale.
[0090] The independent solutions used to achieve the objectives of
the invention may be found in the description.
[0091] Above all, the individual embodiments and features
illustrated in FIGS. 1; 2; 3; 4 may be construed as independent
solutions proposed by the invention in their own right. The
associated objectives and the solutions proposed by the invention
may be found in the detailed description of these drawings.
1 List of reference numbers 1 Welding apparatus 2 Welding current
source 3 Power component 4 Control system 5 Switching element 6
Control valve 7 Supply line 8 Gas 9 Gas storage 10 Welding torch 11
Wire feed device 12 Supply line 13 Welding wire 14 Supply reel 15
Arc 16 Workpiece 17 Welding line 18 Welding line 19 Coolant circuit
20 Flow indicator 21 Water container 22 Input and/or output device
23 Hose pack 24 Connecting device 25 Tension-relieving device 26
Housing 27 (Modular) communication system 28 Mounting unit 29
Communication module 30 Welding shield 31 Coupling mechanism 32
Data transmission system 33 Field bus 34 Part-element 35
Part-element 36 Connecting mechanism 37 (Wireless) data and
communication network 38 Transmitter and/or receiver system 39 --
40 -- 41 -- 42 Device 43 Memory unit 44 Display system 45
Transmitter and/or receiver unit 46 (Wireless) telephone network 47
Telephone system 48 -- 49 -- 50 Internet
* * * * *